Apparatus for the liquid treatment of yarns and the like



H. P. FRY, JR 2,608,850

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF YARNS AND THE LIKE Sept. 2, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1948 INVENTOR. HORACE R FRY, JR. BY

H. P. FRY, JR 2,608,850

APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF YARNS AND THE LIKE Sept. 2, 1952 ZSHEETS-SHEE'I 2 7 Filed Feb, 6, 1948 1 n u I INVENTOR. HORA CE FRKJR.

Patented Sept. 2, 1952 Q-KY'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FoR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF YARNS AND THE LIKE Horace P. Fry, Jr., Swarthmore, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application February 6, 1948, Serial No. 6,693-

7 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment of yarns, tows, or other strands of natural or artificially produced fibers or filaments with liquids and is particularly concerned with the treatment of such yarns with liquids as they are advanced through a path comprising a plurality of laterally spaced convolutions,

In accordance with the present invention, one or more treating liquids are applied to a strand of the filamentary material to be treated as it passes through a path comprising a plurality of laterally spaced convolutions, such as those of a helix, and after the liquid has exerted its effect upon the strand, it is largely removed from the zone of treatment by strippermeans having an arcuate edge disposed in a plane transverse of the axis ofthe convolutions and closely adja-' cent the rotor butout of contact with the convolutions thereof. Such stripper means may serve to remove one or more treating liquids from the lower rotorof a pair about which the convolutions are'carried or from the lower periphery of a thread-advancing reel about which the yarn follows a helical path for discharging the liquid into one or more collecting means, such as troughs, the liquids being kept separate whereever desired by the use of a separate stripper means T and separate collecting container or trough. P In certain instances, the stripper may be provided beneath the upper of apair of canted rotors and be provided with a conduit discharging the liquids stripped from the upper rotor on to-a predetermined portion of the lower of the pair of rotors. When a plurality of liquids are applied to such a pair of rotors, a plurality of stripper means may be provided with the upper rotor for keeping the several liquids applied separate and for separately applying the liquids stripped from the upper rotor to predetermined zones of the lower rotor.

In the drawing, which is illustrative of the in vention,

Figure 1 is a section, of one embodiment of the invention,

.Figure2 is an end elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modification, Figure 4 is an end elevation of the embodiment of Figure 3, I

Figure 5 is a perspectiveview of the stripper provided-between the rotors of Figures 3 and 4, .7

. 2 Figure 8 is an end elevation of the modifica-i tionof Figure 7'.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a thread! advancing reel shown generally at 3 and comprising interdigitating bars 4' and 5 between which relative motion is imparted in any con.- ventional fashion, such as shown in Patents 2,403,031 and 2,404,005, is mounted on an -in-. clined axis as by means of the bearing 6 and is driven through the shaft 1 and the gear 8 secured thereto.

suitable conduits to recovery or replenishing means. Liquids may be supplied by means of conduits 13 provided with any suitable outlets [4 side elevation, with parts in cross- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stripper associated with the lower rotor of Figures 3 and 4 and cut on line VI -VI of Figure 3, p s

Figure? is a side elevation of a modification,

for applying the liquids to the convolutions of thread upon the reel. The outlets I4 may be in the form of a nozzle, spray head, or the like.

As shown, three different liquids are applied to different zones of the reel and because of the inclination of the reel between the horizontaland the 'vertical, preferably at a small angle of about 2 to 5 from the horizontal, the liquids tend to. flow down to the lower end of the reel as they flow around the circumference thereof. Ad-

jacent the lower end of each zone of treatment; stripper means is provided which in the figures are shown as bailles or plates l5, l6 and Il respectively. These strippers have an arcuateedge at [8. (seeFigure 2) which is closely adjacent to the rotor comprisingthe bars 4 andiof the reel but out of contact with the convolutions of yarn carried thereabout, so that as the liquid gathers" orzaccumulates toward the lower end of the zone it projects from the bars and the convolutions' into contact with the arcuate edge l8 whichstrips it from the rotor and'c'onveys the liquid'intothe collecting means. As shown in Figure '1, the stripper may .take several forms.

what different angle than 15. strippers i5 and [6 lie in planes extending trans- Thus that shown at I5 is disposed in a vertical plane and is adjustable in height by virtue of the cap screws 15a extending through slots l5b in the lower por-r I tion of the stripper plate I5. That at I6 is also adjustable in height but is disposed atl'a some;

Although both 3 of the reel relative to the vertical plane of the bafiie. The stripper l! is connected by a bracket or arm I8 to one wall of the trough 9 to which it may be adjustably clamped as at [9. Like the plate Hi, the plane of stripper I1 is at right angles to the axis of the rotor.

By advancing the convolutions of yarn in'the helix from the lower end to the upper end of the reel, countercurrent flow may be obtained in this manner and the several liquids may be effectively stripped and maintained separate in-their several zones by application to the convolutions;

In the embodiment of Figures3 to 6, the con-=- volutions of thread proceed about two canted -ro' tors 2D and 2 I, both of which are inclined at" a small angle to the horizontal and to each other so that the liquid may be applied to the outer upper end and flow back toward the inner lower end along each of the rotors. When the convolutions proceed from the inner or supported ends of the rotors toward the outer'endsthereof, counterfiow can be obtained.

The rotors maybe supported on shafts22' mounted'rotatably in a suitable framework'or support 23 and provided with gears 24 by which either" or both may be driven. Liquid may. be supplied to the upper of the two rotors-by a conduit 25 terminating in a discharge outlet,.

such as a nozzle or spray head 26. Stripper means may be provided toward the lower end of V the" lower rotor for'removing the liquid therefrom and comprises an arcuate stripper plate 21 disposed in a plane extending transversely of theaxis of the rotor. This stripper 21 has'an arcuateedge inclose proximity to the rotor but out of contact with the convolutions of yarn thereon so that gathered or accumulated masses of liquid projecting outwardly from the convolu- An the-outerend to the inner end where it is supported by the frame '23. The stripper 21 may lie-supported at one end of the stripper 29; The bottom of the trough slopes downwardly and terminates-in an outlet 32 which serves to dis-' charge .the liquid into a trough 33 which may run transversely of the rotor axes the length of amaohine comprising a plurality of suchcanted rotor units.

Between the upper and lower rotors, theremay optionally be provided a stripper-34 which'is of arcuateconstruction as shown in Figure 5 and discharges into a trough 35 supported by a bracket '38 extending from the frame 23 which serves as a -conduitto direct the liquid stripped by the stripper 34 from the inner end of rotor 20 to any predetermined portion, such as the outer end'of rotor-2 I.

The bottom of trough 35 slopes down wardly toward the unsupported end of the rotors 4 the convolutions of yarn similar to the stripper 21. The arcuate edge of stripper 34 and the up per edge of stripper 38 may in fact be so closely adjacent to the rotor 20 as to actually make contact therewith as long as there is no contact with the turns of yarn." When'these strippers are positioned in contact with-#the rotor, they may advantageously be formed of a flexible or elastic material such as rubber or synthetic rubber to give a good squeegeeing contact with the 'rotor'surface. However, it extends about the stripper 27 in order to avoid interference with the courses of the=yarn extending between the two rotors.

In this embodiment, liquid adhering to the bottom of the upper rotor is displaced toward an upper portion of the lower rotor and this removal from the upper rotor together with the flowing of a portion of the liquid down the two generally parallel sheets of yarns extendingwbetween rotors serves to transfer the-partially spent liquid collecting on'the upper rotor-tothe lower rotor so that there is less di1ution of--thefresh liquid supplied to the upper rotor: by spent liquid thereon. 7

Figures 7 and 8 show a -modification-comprising two rotors, canted with respect toeach other as in theembodiment of Figures liand4, about which the-yarn is progressed in-a seriespf lat erally displaced convolutions from the inner sup ported ends to the upper unsupported ends-oflthe: rotors. The rotors may be driven as in Figuresd to 4 and are supplied with liquids throughconduits-40 terminating in discharge outlets -4 i. As shown four different liquids are applied to axially, spaced zones of the rotors andstripper means 42-- are provided below the lower rotor toward; the ends of the treatment zones adjacent the lower end of therotor. Asinpreviousembodimentso the strippers have arcuate edges closely adjacent the rotor but out of contact with theturns of? yarn thereabout. The strippers are associated l with separate collecting. means 43 such as the partitioned compartments of a trough carriedpartitioned trough may extend the length of the machine beneath a---plu-- on a bracket 44. This rality of pairs of canted rotors so that each individual trough formed-by thejpartitions servesto-1 collect liquid from a plurality or thread-treating units.

pers 45.

stripped from certain- 0f the Zones to troughsdfl extending transversely of a group of unitsand longitudinally. of a machine comprising such-a group. The construction this case is similar to the troughs 30 =and-133'of -Figures 3-. to -6z w liquid is removed from oneof the zones' l maintained separateand so discharged" 'In' the outer two zones, the liquid Icollected is: directed through the conduits 49 which terminate irip'er forated 'heads '50 abovepredetermined zones ol.

the lower rotori The'conduits uand stri per-1 means associated therewith maybe supported by a common bracket or post 5 I' secured to the frame- 52 of the machine: As shown, the discharge out-'- lets 50 are disposed toward the upper endsof the respective zones upon the lower rotor. Ii desired,

the liquids stripped from all of the zones of the upper rotor may be directed to corresponding zones of the lower rotor. Alternatively, the liquids stripped from the several zones of the upper rotor may be withdrawn entirely from the system as is done with the two liquids applied to the zones at the lower end of the upper rotor in Figures 7 and 8.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating yarns with liquids comprising two rotors mounted, one at a higher level than the other, on axes inclined to the horizontal and vertical for advancing a yarn and the like through a path comprising a plurality of laterally spaced convolutions extending about the rotors, the axes of the rotors being inclined to one another, means for rotating the rotors about their respective axes, means adjacent the upper rotor for applying liquids to the convolutions thereon in a treatment zone of the path, stripper means below the upper of said rotors and between it and the lower of said rotors comprising an arcuate edge in a plane transverse of the rotor axis at the end of the treatment zone toward the lower end of the rotor, said edge being closely adjacent to the rotor but out of contact with the convolutions of yarn upon said upper rotor, and conduit means connected to the stripper means to receive liquid therefrom and having a discharge opening adjacent the lower rotor for directing such liquid to the lower rotor, whereby liquid gathering about the yarn convolutions at the bottom of the upper rotor is stripped therefrom and directed to the lower rotor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the said rollers are inclined to the horizontal in the same general direction and in which the discharge opening from the said conduit means is spaced axially from the arcuate edge toward the upper end of the lower of said rotors.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 comprising means below the lower of said rotors for collecting the liquid, and stripper means below said lower rotor and between it and the collecting means comprising an arcuate edge in a plane transverse of the lower rotor axis at the end of the treatment zone toward the lower end of the lower rotor, said edge being closely adjacent to but out of contact with the convolutions of yarn upon the lower rotor, whereby liquid gathering at the bottom of the lower rotor is stripped therefrom and discharged into the collecting means.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the said rollers are inclined to the horizontal in the same general direction, and in which additional means for applying liquids to additional axially spaced zones of the convolutions and corresponding stripper means are provided with their arcuate edges adjacent the upper rotor at the lower ends of the respective zones, and their respective discharge openings are spaced axially from their arcuate edges toward the upper end of the lower rotor.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the stripper means comprises an edge extending longitudinally of the rotor.

6. Apparatus for treating yarns with liquids comprising a rotor mounted on an axis inclined to the horizontal and vertical for advancing yarn and the like through a path comprising a plurality of laterally spaced convolutions extending about the rotor, means for rotating the rotor about its axis, means adjacent the rotor for applying liquid to the convolutions in a treatment zone of the path, a container spaced below the rotor for collecting the liquid away from the rotor, drainage means associated with the container to prevent the liquid collected therein from contacting the rotor, and stripper means below said rotor and between it and the container comprising a plate having the bottom of both of its faces free to discharge to the container and havin an arcuate edge in a plane transverse of the rotor at the end of the treatment zone toward the lower end of the rotor, said edge being closely adjacent to but out of contact with the convolutions of yarns upon the rotor, whereby liquid gathering about the yarn convolutions at the bottom of the rotor is stripped therefrom, discharged into the container away from the rotor and drained therefrom.

7. Apparatus for treating yarns with liquids comprising two rotors mounted, one at a higher level than the other, on axes inclined to the horizontal and vertical for advancing a yarn and the like through a path comprising a plurality of laterally spaced convolutions extending about the rotors, the axes of the rotors being inclined to one another, means for rotating the rotors about their respective axes, means above the rotors for applying liquid to the convolutions in a treatment zone of the path, a container spaced below the lower of said rotors for collecting the liquid away from the rotors, drainage means associated with the container to prevent the liquid collected therein from contacting the said lower rotor, and stripper means below said lower rotor and between it and the container comprising a plate having the bottom of its faces free to discharge to the container and having an arcuate edge in a plane transverse of the lower rotor axis at the end of the treatment zone toward the lower end of the lower rotor, said edge being closely adjacent to but out of contact with the convolutions of yarn upon the lower rotor, whereby liquid gathering about the yarn convolutions at the bottom of the lower rotor is stripped therefrom, discharged into the container away from the rotor and drained therefrom.

HORACE P. FRY, J R.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

